Yes! Finally! It's warm! And once again I am procrastinating!

No prize for the smart person who guessed that I have an essay to write again!

Man my page is so boring. I have a dream... a dream to make my blog beautiful.... Okay set. Holiday that time I make nice nice.

First off, thank you to those who visit my blog (yes... my audience of three).... myself, Soon Seng and I. I actually visit my blog to use the link to the other blogs on my links.

I just drank ipoh white coffee... it's really nice and yummm but when I drink it on days that I cannot handle caffeine I get major headache and this "zing" that I cannot describe.

Secondly, I wanted to share with everyone what I will be writing this weekend.

It's really quite interesting. And I am also really passionate about the subject matter.

I have been researching and writing for my Field Study (mini thesis) for three months now. After contemplating for 2 years what my subject should be, I had a smack-my-own-forehead moment... CINEMA! Duuuuh....

My piece on Chinese Cinema is also about culture. About how film critics in the West read or interpret Zhang Yimou's films.

Zhang Yimou was the dude that art directed the Olympics performance. The same dude who did Hero and also the same dude who did House of Flying Daggers.

However I am concentrating more on the films he did in the 80s and 90s like Red Sorghum, Judou and Raise the Red Lantern. These films are really fascinating and extremely self-orientalising. Beautiful nontheless.

His films from that time have a certain je ne sais  quoi in its cinematography which makes his films perpetually beautiful despite the sometimes harsh and cold mise-en-scene like in Raise the Red Lantern.

His contemporary films still have the same beauty however I feel that all that CGI he used was overkill.

Exciting! Except I have to write and rewrite everything in three weeks. Tres stress!

My other essay isn't quite as exciting... a policy analysis of the AUSAID's White Paper. Yawn!

I know this picture's already on facebook, in fact I stole it from facebook...  I dont care! My blog so the pictureless and sad....

New pick up line for those interested in the French/ those living in ex French colonies.

Wah. Like so long I didnt write in my blog right? As usual I am writing to procrastinate. What is it this time?

An article for my aunt on Mulberry Trees. Not too difficult but it is a preview to what is coming within the next week. More research and more essay drafting... which sends shivers down my spine thinking about the late nights I will be pulling to meet the deadline because I just cant rationalise myself into finishing my work ahead of the deadline.

For that, I salute Minwi. She always does everything first so she can enjoy herself later on. Why cant I be like that? Because it just doesnt work.

No inspiration. Unmotivated.

Lalala. Okay enough.

Been busy working at Stalactites, a greek restaurant in town. It's crazy busy there all the time. Business is just that good. Trying to make $$$ to go to NYC for Xmas!

But before that... have internship and mini mini thesis to worry about. Boo!

Announcement Announcement!!!!!

I finally did what I really wanted to do for a really long time. It cost a bomb... but I thought... totally worth it!!! I GOT MY NAVEL PIERCED!

The pain on the scale of 1 to 20? Maybe a three...

How when why where what who?

What began as a would be boring Saturday with work and a lil party before work soon became my lil adventure...

I was just overjoyed by the fact that all the nasty exams are over... I still have my Chinese paper left... but nevermind...

As I was practicing my knitting and chatting online, Jolene said hi on MSN and we started chatting... Along the way she mentioned she got a tattoo... And I was pleasantly surprised and thought to myself.... I should do this!

Not the tattoo... but to get my belly pierced. I've wanted to do it for such a long time. 

I am not usually such a spontaneous person but the thing is I have random tendencies to do such things.

So this is what I did... in order.... Googled for this tattoo parlour on Gertrude St which Jo recommended, called them... but they only do tattoos. Did the next best thing; googled for "Safe piercings/ melbourne"... And I read about The Piercing Urge on Commercial Road in Prahran. Ninemsn recommended the place to be one of the most hyginic and professional piercing parlours.

I wanted to do it right and was ready for a really high cost. Besides, I didnt get the handbag or the dress that I wanted. So this really was the next best thing!

Got onto The Piercing Urge's website and saw their updates... Navel Piercings Half Price on Saturdays! ***Need I say more????***

The procedure was really easy. They asked questions like if I took drugs, had any alcohol, allergies...

Then I waited for about 10 mins for the tools to be sterilized. I had a very nice girl to pierce me... Dunno what they're called but she was very friendly.

I tend to get very chatty when I am nervous and am on my own. So I asked her if she's ever pierced herself... she said no. I was a little disspointed. She explained that getting someone else to do it for you is more efficient, quick and therefore less painful.

I chose a very simple hook ring for my piercing. After inserting the needle through the marked spots on my navel, she then pushed in the bell hook through with the needle and then later screwed the piercing shut.

All very quick and not so painful. No blood even! The procedure cost $32 after the discount and I paid $80 for the bell hook. She assured me that it was good quality and the design of the hook would stop from scratching my piercing.

I was even given a packet of sea salt to wash my piercing daily. It's supposed to help clean the secretions i.e. blood and plasma around the piercing and the hook. It stings a little after I wash but not too bad.

Jolene met me after I got it done in the parlour! I thought she was going to bring her cuz along to get pierced. So malu only when I told the girl, my friend's coming to get hers done too!

Ms Jolene who's also the quintessential fashionista heard that there was a Sass and Bide sale in the Prahran Townhall. So off we went!

Tried on like a hundred pair before settling on deciding on two... and then finally purchasiing a vintage blue, normal rise, bootcut.

While walking down to the train station, we found this quaint bag shop... Miss Susie/Nancy... Oh so gorgeous bags!!!! Too bad I was so pokkai after the piercing... or not I would've bought the red bag. Oh well....

It was such a productive day after all!

 

Since my creative juices are not flowing for the sake of my essay... I shall employ my creativity here in my poor neglected blog.

What have I been up to? Researching for my latest essay; on Farewell My Concubine and Flowers of Shanghai. Did my research thoroughly as usual... and end up not doing anything else. The agony of a perfectionist; it's all or nothing! And looking through my notes... I felt that I've wasted so much time copying useless information which I thought would somehow make my essay interesting later.

I got tagged to do a few situational... what would you do.... questions. Too lazy to think lah! So I chose an easy one... hehe

5 things found in my (current) room:
I have so much junk... perhaps I shall make mention those which are important to me...
1) my luggage ... it's staring right at me... saying fill me up! I wanna go home!
2) a stack of newspapers... they are meant to be recycled
3) my jackets- on the table, on the chair... it's warmer now... no need them anymore!
4) my new Peter Alexander pyjama pants... beautiful indian summer print
5) a telephone... i hav my own line in the room!

5 things I've always wanted to do:
1) Paint... I intend to test my (nonexistant) artistic talents 
2) Full body massage!!!! I am so doing that when I get back... anyone wanna join?
3) Travel to a distant continent
4) Make money for doing something smart... perhaps after Uni 
5) get something pierced other than my ears... belly?

5 things found in my bag:
1) Lancome Lipgloss
2) Red Wallet
3) Keys
4) Black mobile
5) Bible (yesterday was Sunday)

5 things found in my wallet:
1) $$$
2) Plastic student card
3) Movie tickets
4) ATM card
5) sticker photo of my cuzzies and I

5 things I am currently into:
1) writing my essay... supposedly...
2) Sesame seed snaps
3) Cycling
4) Saturday afternoon outings
5) hunting for the perfect casual dress and bag

5 persons/victim to be tagged:
I dont victimise ppl.... please... feel free to do this fun frill free activity.

What I am looking forward to-->>>>> He Yue and Patricia's coming!!!!!

Seeing that I'm just as illusive as the phantom as a blogger, it's only appropriate my next post is on the world famous Phantom of the Opera.

I did it! I watched a musical and actually enjoyed it! It's my first Andrew Llyod Webber experience. My earlier musicals were actually pseudo-theatre-musicals; both of which were experienced during my stay in Shanghai two years ago.

The first one was a musical magic show. It was really tacky but entertaining all the same, I think. I cannot remember much of the story line. (Yes, there was a story incorporated into the magic show as well). It was a father daughter act. It's all coming back to me now... They were Singaporean missionaries (the Christian ones) and the magic shows are their livelihood. I could actually understand the story and all from my sporadic understanding of the Mandarin dialogue and the handy subtitling screens at each side of the stage.

The second musical theatre I watched was a Hong Kong production; with the celebrity Tony Leung Kah Wai (not the Tony Leung is Infernal Affairs) and the woman who stars in a myriad of TVB series... I can point her out but dont know her name.

The story was about a widow (the HK woman) and how she was ostracized by her in-laws. They blame her for bringing ill luck into the family... yes, Chinese people are very rational... if anything bad happens in the family; it's not because someone has had poor health since they were born, or the men's incompetent sperm production, or the corrupt handling of family businesses.

So if someone dies, or there are no grandchildren, or the business is bankrupt; it is always the newly wed daughter-in-law's fault. She's bad juju.

So anyways, the family sends her away to the city and there she meets a promiscuous but very charming Tony Leung. At first she was disgusted by his womanising habits but... what can I say?... the woman was sucker for a man in a white suit who looks as good as Tony Leung. They fell in love. But as luck would have it the man flees before the war to save his overseas business. When the Japanese came, they were separated. Finally they found each other and got married... but as luck would have it, he dies young. The story ended with a scene of her contemplating her misfortunes as an old woman living alone in the house he left her. As if she wasnt pathetic enough, her house was due for demolishment and she refuses to leave her property. Ah... the double-edged sword of development.

Back to the phantom. The cast was amazing. I didnt get the program. The costumes were delightfully flamboyant. The acting dramatacised. The performances perfectly executed. The Phantom was as hideous as he was mysterious.

People, if you thought the movie was boring and bad. You're not wrong. Watch the musical live and you will cultivate a new appreciation for the Phantom.

my view of the stage from my balcony seat

 

I cant freaking believe there's only 4 more weeks till the semester's over. And last night was the most intense time of my essay writing career. Which really only began since I started this course. And since we only write a maximum of two essays per subjects per semester, that's not a whole lot. But seriously.....

Oh and excuse my french. I thought I so freaking deserve to scream obscenities once I finished the whole freaking 3000 word essay on the theory of why Human Rights is Universal and not merely a Western construct. Shit man. YOu think you know your shit when you read those books. But when you sit your ass down to start writing. All you can do is fart and say fark!

At one point.... probably 3 am I had only 1700 words which is only about half the freaking essay.... I just sat and stared at my freaking notes.... first of all.... lesson learnt..... LI WEN YOU JUST PROCRASTINATED YOURSELF INTO DEPRESSION. And then bloody type those logs on ure notes in the future.... because your writing soooo cakar ayam!

Then at about 9 in the morning I finally wrote my penultimate paragraph.... and there was only the conclusion left to do. I thought.... ahhhh....screw it.... go sleep... so I did and was woken up by the awful blaring alarm downstairs.... my landlady woke up.... and decided to wake the entire neighbourhood as well.... but not her fault.... it's this alarm thing she has to press to alert the people on ther other side of the line that she's still alive. Serious.

And then finally I finished the worst piece of poo i have ever written in my life at 10. Sent a couple of my friends a copy to proof read. One said okay... another one still reading.... and reading..... and still reading.....

I'm going to mandi now.... then go dress shopping!!!!!@#$%^&*&^%$#

Shit man! I terclose the window so now all that I blogged kena delete... too bad.... so only pictures la I need to study aso after this.

But a few things to mention.... It was Jo's 21st and she bought us (me, hui, lynne her cuz and sinyee her hsemate) to Belgian Beer Cafe for dinner. It was a wonderful dinner and oh so scrumptious.

We were quite bad at keeping on time and Jo who had to do number two terpaksa do it in the restaurant. wahahaha....i tell everybody. Jo Dont kill me.

A dirty old man tried to pick Sinyee up but thankgoodness he gave up after her obvious disinterest.

Lynne, whom I do not hav a pic of here is only 16... and good thing we were only there for dinner coz the bouncer asked for IDs.... ah... we look so young. wahahha...

Pictures!!!!!!!!

Isnt she beautiful? I'm talking abt the cake... but Jo's looking gorgeous too!!

Melaka girlfriends!!!!

Spicy Mussels... so good even Hui ate some.and behind the neglected beef

Bottom L-R: Seafood pasta, Calamari and Leek, and Frites/ Fries

One more.... plus Sinyee

Being silly after Lavish

More silly ones

 

     So, this is Jolene, first time blogger and also first time visiting a blog!!Muahaha...so today we went to this stupid place called Lavish....sooooooooooo shitty!! Not recommended!! and people...if u see the cake pic on the next blog...its soooo yummy!! n belgian food is good!!!YUMYUM!!!oh btw...i would like to take this opportunity to thank the 3 siaw cha bohs for the prezzies...n also 2 everyone who wish me as welll....n those who didn't wish me..SCREW YOU!!!lolz....jkjk....
     
          sooooo....21 is really the new 18.....yea....we r all still young....honestly i dun know what d hell i'm talkin about....so i shall stop now!!

            btw..after my 1st time experience in blogging.....my verdict is i Shall Never BLog again....too lazy la...........so yaya....i got no emo stuff to say here so i crap....LOLZ...

          sorry to those ppl who wasted time reading this....more UPDATE by li wen in the coming days...

            CIAO for now ~jolene~

P/S: If you find this entertaining..please leave a comment...u  might inspire me to start a blog....LOLZ..........................................~someday

Since I am too full from lunch to study.... I shall be blogging. So that I can entertain you people as well. And yes being too full from lunch is a legitimate reason for not doing what I'm supposed to do.

And since no one want to layan me on MSN this morning. Humph! I shall just entertain myself by blogging. Wah yesterday horr... I went blog surfing lor.... and I tell you harr...it's so addictive man! Bad bad bad....

But I saw what Xiaxue did to her room and I had the itch to get creative too. But I always get too absorbed whenever I start so I almost never bother starting... especially when I am supposed to be reading for my essay now... Ish! Yes. Still not finished yet. I dun like reading! I cant read fast and the big scary words in those academic books with no pictures screw with my brains. And I end up day dreaming instead.

Okay. that made me sound like a bimbo.... but whatever! It's true! Sometimes I wish I just stuck with numbers and facts like accounting and stuff.... but then again; there would be so many things that I would be left oblivious to. Lotsa good things are happening. And I'm excited about going back home for Summer!!!! But not happy that I have to look for a place... coz I have had so many bad experiences in that department.

Oh and I took lotsa photos of food. hehe..... Payback..... XS and Elaine and Julyn and all you wacky foodies!

This week too many things going on until boh sim thak chek.....

I cant remember now.... but I think it was Tuesday that I met Emily for lunch as well at Sushi Ten for Mix Don. It was really yum... i never had just raw fish for lunch before. Seeeee

Mixed Don at SushiTen in Port Philip Arcade

Emily and her don

On Tues went to watch a movie at Cinema Nova.... didnt know what it was about until I showed up.... Irina's Palm..... about a grandma who gave handjobs in her desperate hour to get money..... thank goodness no zakar on display. It was a tragedy comedy... I know; sick right, how can a movie about an already pathetic ah mah doing such things be funny.... but it was..... sick Brits. hehe

On Wed, had lunch with the Chinese Language and Culture Ambassadors. We were meant to buy the teacher lunch but she ended up paying for lunch anyways.... So the aiyoh ritee.... but nvm, we're going to buy her a present instead. We had Sichuan Cai.... damn syok.... so spicy. I havent had anything this spicy in a loooong time and my tummy felt weird all day. We had crabs! And La Zi Ji (Spicy Chicken) and oooh the Brinjal was deep fried with sweet sauce to perfection! yummmmm....

Bottom left to right: spicy chicken, lungs and tongue, cucumber, mix vege, chicken, brinjal and in the middle's the crab

Then the same night I had a dinner date with my girlfriends at RMIT. Tanu, Farial, Jess and Karla. It was fun. We talked about everything under the sun. GOod thing the restaurant was crowded and already noisy coz we were laughing like hyenas and at one point screaming..... it was scary. The big ass ice cream at Sofia's was beeeeeeg... and 5 of us couldnt finish one. It was delish... and so was the Tiramisu... but I only got a picture of the ice cream. Seeeeee.....

the big ass gelati

Farial, Karla and Tanu... and inthe foreground... that's my salad

Oh then yesterday I watched Rush Hour 3! Super funny. Julyn, you're right, it's basically the same stuff but I thought it's funnier than before because of the corny lines. But for a Hollywood movie it lacked plot like the previous two films. Not that there was much plot with the others.... but better than this one.

And now it's Friday afternoon. Pried myself out of bed at 10 and then pretend to study and now blogging. lalala...... I duwan to study!!!!